If you are like me, you prepared a will, establishing financial and health care powers of attorney, and set up a distribution plan as part of an estate plan. Have you included your digital assets and online account information in your estate documents?

A recent article from Smart Money made me pause and think. “Have I done enough to protect our family’s digital assets and make them safe for the future?”

What Are Digital Assets?

Digital assets can range from things with obvious financial value (online bank and brokerage accounts, and Web-based businesses) to less obvious but still valuable properties like domain names, blogs, Twitter accounts and even social media pages like Facebook. Without log-in information, access to those Web accounts and services may require hiring a computer-forensics expert or obtaining a court order.

Unfortunately, digital assets and online account information are often left out of the estate planning process preventing loved ones from accessing and caring out our wishes regarding our digital property. Most accounts are password protected and have terms of service that prevent third parties, including family members, from accessing the accounts without the accountholder’s permission or a court order.

Legislation governing digital asset management after death has been passed in only five states (Oklahoma, Idaho, Rhode Island, Indiana, and Connecticut). Even in these states, the laws are just now being tested.

A Missouri Situation

When Missouri estates and trusts lawyer Robert Kirkland was preparing a will for a client several years ago, it never occurred to him to include any provisions about electronic bank statements or e-file tax services, both of which were then relatively new.

The result of that omission became clear only last year, when the client died unexpectedly — and his wife had no way to access their joint online bank accounts and the other key financial records that were stored digitally. After weeks of trying to guess her late husband’s passwords, the widow finally had to call on some IT specialists to hack into his computer. Kirkland still cringes when he thinks about it: “It was a headache on top of a heartache,” he says.

The Digital Estate Problem

As more and more of our lives goes online, estate planners are grappling with how to advise clients to secure and transfer their virtual estates — the bodies of non-tangible, digital assets people create and store on their computers and the Internet. Thirty-six percent of adults over age 45 now do their banking on the Web, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, and millions of people store some financial records online, which are often locked behind myriad user names and passwords.

Gene Hennig, one of Minnesota’s commissioners to the Uniform Law Commission, said that a court order is one of the few options families have in obtaining access to a loved one’s online accounts.

“You’ve got to hire lawyers. It’s time-consuming. Some people may go to all that trouble and it took forever to get the order and by the time they got it, the stuff had been destroyed. It’s just an unworkable and very inefficient way of doing things,” Hennig said.

What Can You Do?

Talk to your estate planner. Some estate planners are creating step-by-step instructions for how heirs can access and transfer virtual properties after a client’s death.

For starters, working with your estate planner, you can take inventory of all your digital accounts and store an updated list of passwords on a flash drive, locked in a safe. Some pros are also looking to websites like Legacylocker.com and AssetLock.net, which enable users to release account information to designated beneficiaries after their death.

Taking even a few modest actions now, says New York attorney Bernard Krooks, can keep your assets from getting lost in a cybercemetery.

Conclusion

The article from Smart Money forced me to think about my own digital assets and how I want to make them more secure. I hope it gives you additional ideas to consider about making your digital world a safer place for you and your family and for the future! Be safe.

AT&T has announced that starting in 2017 they will no longer support 2 G home security systems. 2G home security networks are on their way out! Many earlier versions of home and commercial security systems are built on 2 G radio frequencies.

While 2017 is a long ways off, the security industry has already notified us to expect some degrading of home and commercial systems using the 2 G frequencies. You want your home security system to provide the best security for your and your family.

If you have doubts about your current security system, give us a call and we will evaluate your system and show you options for upgrading your 2 G Home Security system to systems supported by AT&T.

At a recent network meeting, I was talking to an insurance agent. In our conversation, she reminded me why insurance agents give discounts to home owners who have a home security system.

Insurance Is About Calculated Risks

Insurance companies calculated risks. Home owner’s insurance premiums are based on calculated risks. Based on FBI statistics, a US home is burglarized every 13 seconds. Using use same national statistics, homes with security system are 300% less likely to be burglarized.

Home Security Systems Reduce Insurance Premiums

With a home security system, your home is at a lesser risk. Most insurance companies provide discounts on your home insurance premiums. Depending upon your insurance company, you can get anywhere from 5%-20% discount on your homeowners insurance. There may be additional discounts for deadbolts and other home security options.

Conclusion

Call your insurance agent and explore the discounts that maybe available to you with a home security system. In you’re an existing Protection Concept customer, supply us with your insurance company information and we will send them the Certificate of Monitoring so you get your insurance discount. Want to learn more whyinsurance companies love home security systems, click here for more information.

Commercial security at your finger tips–If you watch any of the popular crime shows on TV, you know how important video cameras have become in preventing and solving crimes. The commercial surveillance see on TV has become a reality for many business operations.

Commercial Video Surveillance can protect your assets as well as your employees. The proper camera and placement can make the difference in being able to identify the person in a critical situation such as false injury claims or workplace violence. Want to check up on what’s going on while you are away? Want to see if everything is ok? Want to keep up with who’s in and out and when?.

Today, you can manage your video surveillance from any computer, smartphone, or other digital devices.

New technology makes video surveillance easier and more affordable. With Real-Time Alerts you can specify the exact events you want to know about and when they occur; we’ll send you e-mails; text messages or video alerts in real-time. Checking on your business is as easy as checking your e-mail.

The remote keypad feature works just like a security system keypad letting you access and operate your system remotely from anywhere in the world when using your smartphone and other compatible wireless devices. You are able to turn lights on and off, you can also remotely arm and check the status of your security system.

It’s never been easier to stay in the know and stay in control. Let us give you a free commercial evaluation on how video surveillance can benefit your operations. Give us a call today.

Tax Refund Fraud…Its tax season again. We worry about “the tax man.” In today’s world, we also must worry about a new tax danger, Tax Refund Fraud. Let me share with you some thoughts about Tax Refund Fraud from several articles on the Tax Refund Fraud. Learn the ways you can protect yourself.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine – let’s call her Mallory – got an unsettling call from her accountant. The accountant had been preparing Mallory’s taxes, hit “Send” to e-file the finished return, and it was rejected. Someone had already filed a tax return using Mallory’s Social Security number. She’d been a victim of tax identity theft.
The accountant called the IRS, but they wouldn’t talk to her. Mallory called and was directed to the fraud department. While she was on hold, she made more calls: one to a friend at the FBI, another to the FTC and the last one to me.
Mallory had just become a statistic. The aftermath of tax identity theft is messy, and since 2012, the number of victims has been on the rise. Millions of Americans who expected refunds—often desperately needed to make ends meet—have waited the better part of a year to get their money back – and even then only after they had traversed a paper labyrinth to prove to the IRS they had been the victims of a crime.

Tax Refund Fraud–What You Can Do to Protect Your Tax Identity

Scott Mitic, CEO of TrustedID, an identity-protection company, offers the following suggestions on how to protect your identity in tax related matters.

Be careful about who does your taxes. Choose someone who has good references from family and friends.

Don’t carry your Social Security card in your purse or wallet.

Did you know that majority of identity thieves are from people you know? Don’t leave personal information lying around the house where guests, nannies, housekeepers or construction workers might find it.

The internet is a great place for identity thieves to gather information. Don’t offer your birth date and the city of your birth on your Facebook page. These bits of information can be pieced together with others, such as your Social Security number, your address and your mother’s maiden name, to form an identity.

Never put your tax forms in your mailbox. Put them in a postal box or hand them to a postal employee. E-filing is the most secure way to file, as fewer people handle the data.

Conclusion

The tips above will help you avoid identity theft associated with tax refunds. If you would like more preventive tips, go to irs.gov/uac/Identity-Protection. Be safe and keep your tax refunds safe!

SECURITY & CAMERA SYSTEMS

At KMT Systems, you can rest assured that we are concerned about the same things you are. Your security and safety will be handled by only experienced professionals using today’s equipment and achieving the fastest response times possible. Having a monitored system in your home will act as a deterrent to criminals while adding monitored smoke detectors throughout your home increases your chances of preventing a tragic fire situation.

24-HOUR MONITORING & INSURANCE DISCOUNTS

With 24 hour monitoring services you can have that peace of mind that your property is being protected no matter where you are. Remote access can be provided with your homw system.

Not only do you get protection of your belongings but depending on where you live your insurance company may provide a discount of up to 20% for having an alarm system installed. Contact your provider to determine if your are eligible for a discounted rate.

YOU CAN ALSO TRY TOTAL CONNECT!

Control and monitor your security system with your smartphone or computer with Total Connect from KMT Systems. Whether you’re a soccer mom or parent on the go, Total Connect will give you the security you expect. Enjoy the peace of mind and flexibility of being able to easily access your security system from anywhere at any time. From almost any web-enabled device, you’ll be able to verify that your alarm is armed, receive email or text notifications, access video clips from your cameras adjust your thermostats, and so much more.

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Over the past decade, we have installed custom home theaters and whole house audio systems in homes around Atlanta. We carry innovative technologies and cutting-edge dependable brands. At KMT, we pride ourselves on surpassing every expectation when it comes to your home theater system and audio visual needs. You receive undivided personal attention, knowledgeable, friendly, enthusiastic individuals who are eager to answer all of your questions about your needs and provide you with top notch professional service.

At KMT Systems, we cover all aspects of the home theater system including:

KMT will help you choose the right home theater components, home audio speakers and subwoofers, and learn more about the exciting world of high definition including Blu- Ray. Just as important as which components to buy is deciding where to put them. There are several things to consider when designing a home theater including personal preferences, physical requirements, and budget. You will benefit from our years of expert knowledge in designing and installing custom home theaters.

COMMUNICATIONS

With all of the activities going on in the home, sometimes it’s difficult to communicate to the whole family. You don’t want to strain your voice, but you don’t want to go unheard either. With an intercom system, you can easily communicate to any room in your home.

Have peace of mind that you can easily monitor a child’s room or stay within earshot of any family member no matter where you are in the house. Bring more security to your home with intercom features that allow you to screen visitors and to answer your door from anywhere in your home. An intercom system can play your favorite radio stations or CDs throughout the house creating the perfect entertainment for guests and special occasions. These systems will not only fit your lifestyle, but make it more convenient too.

Structured Wiring

Structured wiring is a generic term used to describe many different types of residential wiring products currently on the market. These products all have the same basic purpose: to efficiently distribute a variety of data signals throughout your home. Signal types supported range from familiar ones, such as cable television and telephone, to those you may not be so familiar with, such as Ethernet computer networks. To give some more practical (and exciting!) examples, a structured wiring system is the backbone which will allow you to:

• Play a DVD in one room, and watch it on any other TV.
• Listen to your stereo in any room of the house.
• Place video cameras at your front door, in the back, or in key rooms and watch the pictures on any TV.
• Hook multiple computers up to one internet connection.
• Send files between all computers.
• Share devices such as printers
• Have over a dozen different phone lines.
• Easily make adjustments to all of these options as your home needs change.

Home Builder Solutions

Providing high-end and production home builders the ability to expand their custom features, KMT’s new home construction solutions include wiring for advanced home security, home automation, and high-end home theater systems.

• A highly-trained team and proven track record
• A profit center opportunity
• Automation and remote control of locks, lights, thermostats and more

home automation

How would you like to be able to walk into your home and instantly feel comfortable – rather than having to fumble with keys, reach for all the light switches and wait for the temperature to adjust? That is what home automation offers you: an easier way to manage the technologies you depend on for a secure, comfortable home.

When integrated into your existing security system, home automation enables you to use your computer, smartphone or tablet to remotely control your alarm, lighting, locks, and thermostat. You can even receive real-time alerts to your phone regarding specific events: who entered and left, what lights went on…you name it.

This system also offers numerous energy benefits, including a reduced electricity impact and lower utility bills.

Security Systems

Whether you’re the sole proprietor of a single location or you operate a chain of stores, chances are you have problems shared by every small business owner: theft, unexplained inventory shortages, shoplifting, fraud, employee productivity. The list goes on and on. KMT Systems can help.

We’ve spent years working with small businesses to understand the issues that concern you the most. As a leading partner with small business, KMT has developed solutions to address your everyday problems effectively and affordably. Our specialists focus on things like return on investment, operational effectiveness, and premise liability. We’ll work with you to understand your needs and, with our experience, we’ll customize the right system for you. Not just a traditional security system, but an integrated method of tackling your security and business needs – and most importantly – improving your bottom line.

We combine superior products, creative thinking, and leading technology to provide you with critical information in real time. All of this is backed up by dependable, best-in-class service by our highly trained technicians. At KMT, we put the power of security in your hands.

When it comes to fire protection and life safety, experience counts. Our experts will build a comprehensive fire protection program for your business with a central focus on consulting, expert design, code compliance, professional installation, preventative maintenance, and inspection service to meet your commercial insurance requirements.

access control

Why access control? Employee theft, unauthorized access, visitor management, violence in the workplace, the cost of re-keying… There are too many to name. Control a single site or control multiple facilities with a comprehensive access control solution from KMT. From single door systems to large commercial/industrial applications, we have the right solution for you.

data cabling

Data cabling is a generic term used to describe many different types of commercial wiring products currently on the market. These products all have the same basic purpose: to efficiently distribute a variety of data signals throughout your building. Signal types supported range from familiar ones, such as cable television and telephone, to those you may not be so familiar with, such as Ethernet computer networks. KMT can run cable for all of your office needs around phone systems and data transfer. To give some more practical examples, a structured wiring system is the backbone which will allow you to:

• Play a DVD in one room, and watch it on any other TV.
• Listen to your stereo in any office.
• Place video cameras at your front door, in the back, or in key offices room and watch the pictures on any TV.
• Hook multiple computers up to one internet connection.
• Send files between all computers.
• Share devices such as computer printers and fax machines.
• Have over a dozen different phone lines.
• Easily make adjustments to all of these options as your business needs change.

new construction

Providing high-end and production home builders the ability to expand their custom features, KMT’s new commercial construction solutions include wiring for advanced security, automation, and entertainment systems.

• A highly-trained team and proven track record
• A profit center opportunity
• Automation and remote control of locks, lights, thermostats and more

Forms

We want to help our customers as much as possible and make sure any questions they have are answered. The forms below help give more details on how to use our products and can be downloaded to your computer so that you always have access to them no matter what.